Roller-bearing.



L. P. ALFORD.

ROLLER BEARING.

APPLICATION nun 11110.12, 1901.

Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

I 10 m li| i:

ll fiinesssg M QM 41 Mm u L. P. ALFORD.

ROLLER BEARING.

APPLICATION FILED DBO.12, 190

91 5,649. Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

did

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEON P. ALL ORD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO BOSTON TOOL COMPANY, OF CAM- BRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACH USETTSi ROLLER-BE ARIN G.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented March 16, 1909.

Application filed December 12. 1901'. Serial No. 408,219.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEON P. ALr-onn, of New York, borough of Manhattan, State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Roller-Bearings, of which the following is a s )eciiication.

his invention relates to roller bearings of the cage; and to provide the box with oilcontaining recesses at the ends of the bearing portion and to so ,arrange the endiplates of the roller-supporting cage that the mav en'ter said recesses and turn in the oi whicr is contained therein and car up the oil and distribute it to the rollers; a so, to construct an improved form of roller-supporting cage which will not twist or distort when en {1 jected to severe torsional strain, which wi support the rollers in such manner that they may freely rotate, and which will provide for distributing oil to the interior of the rollers; also, to rovide the shaft with collars which prevent t e oil from moving along on the shaft and to provide oil-receiving recesses at the ends of the box adapted. to catch oil which drips from the shaft or which may otherwise be caused to enter them, and to so arrange the collars on the shaft and to so construct them that they will enter said recesses and will act to throw out the oil con tained therein; also, to arrange said oil-receiving recesses adjacent said oil-containing recesses and to provide partition walls between them over which t e oil is thrown by the collars which turn in the oil-receiving recesses, whereby the oil is returned to the oilcontaining recesses; also, to provide a hearing portion for the box with an annular recess at a point intermediate its length, which is in open communication with the settling the ox, which results in not only lubricating ers, and the edges which t us extend beyond the parts but also in washin them, removing therefrom all foreignpartic es; also, to provide means for positively driving said oilconveying ring.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a rollerbearing embodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical section of the same. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are details of a portion of the roller-supporting cage. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the lower part of the box and a portion of the roller-supporting cage, rollers and shaft therein. Fi 7 is an under side view of the upper part 0% the box. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the oil-conveying rin straightened out. Fig. 9 is a sectional detai of said ring. Fig. 10 is a detail showing in longitudinal section a portion of the oil-conveyingl ring.

it represents one of the ro lers of the set, any desirable nurhber of which are employed. They are made cylindrical and tubular,'of thin material, and are herein shown as of the same diameter from end to end and are suported at their 0 osite ends by the circular end plates b, b, o t e cage. The end plates b ar'e'cach provided with a circularly arranged series of circular sockets which receive the ends of the rollers. The ends of the rollers loosely iit the sockets and turn freely therein. Each roller is provided with a series of transverse slits a, which extend 90 degrees or more about its circumference. These slits are arranged in pairs, the slits of each pair being 0 positely disposed, and the successive pairs 0 slits are arranged with the slits of each pair disposed opposite the spaces between the slits of the adjacent pair. The slits formed in each roller of the set are staggered with respect to the elite of the adjacent rollers, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 6, so that the sections of the rollers between the slits will not form tracks in the bearing portion which they engage. The slits may be merely saw cuts in the rollers, and in addition to giving flexibility to the rollers permit the free assage of Oil andthus aid in distributing it to the bearing portion.

The end plates 1), b, of the cage are made as flat circular rings and are socketed on their inner faces to receive the ends of the rollers. They are made lar e enough in diameter to extend beyond the earin points of the rollsaid bearing-points, enter recesses whic are provided at t e opposite ends of the bearing portion. The two end plates are rigidly secured together, and the means herein shown for accomplishing this result consists of bars b, which are made long enough to engage said plates and hold them with their inner faces in engagement with e e-lose to the opposits ends or the bearingportion, so that ongitudinal thrust of the cage is resisted by the end plates engaging the ends of the hear' ing portion. The connectingbars b are preferably made as flat bars, formed at each end with a pair of spurs b", which project through holes in the end plates, and which are upset or riveted to the end plates. The spurs are separated so that the ends of the bars between the spurs form flat abutting faces which bear a ainst the inner faces of the end plates. F0 convenience, these flat bars may extend through the tubular rollers or they may be othhrwise arranged. As many of these bars will be provided as desired. By providing flat bars, as herein shown, having at each end a plurality of spurs and an abutting face it will be seen that a veryitigid cage is produced, which will not twist or distort when subjected to severe torsional strains. The end plates b are also provided with a series of small holes 6", which extend through them at points opposite the ends of the tubular rollers, to thereby provide for the passage of oil thercthrough and into the rollers.

The recesses at the ends of the bearing portion of the box are adapted to contain oil and as the edges of the end plates of the cage enter said recesses the oil will be picked up by them and caused to flow through the holes therein, into the tubular rollers and thence through the slits of said rollers into contact with the bearin portion of the box.

The box is cylindrica ly formed and is divided longitudinally into two parts d, and d. It is made hollow and its circularly formed ends are each provided with a circular hole for the shaft. Within the box a cylindrical two part bearing portion (1! is formed, which extends nearly from end to end thereof, upon or against which the rollers bear, the two parts of said bearing portion being formed respectively on the interior of the two parts cl, and ii, and the meeting edges of the two parts of the bearing portion being curved to corres 0nd with the curvature of the meeting e ges of the two parts of the box on which they are respectively formed. The bearing portion d is made of the same diameter from end to end and at each end thereof an annular recess is formed in the box. By making the bearing portion in this manner it may be easily machined, the tool running from start to finish without change. The opposite ends of the bearing portion at are formed at right angles to the bearing surface and present engaging faces against which the inner faces of the end lates of the cage abut when said cage is subgectad to an end thrust. By thus. forming the bearin portion and constructing the cage with on plates which are adapted to engage the ends thereof very etlicient means are provided for restraining 'endwise movement of the cage and no other means need be employed.

In the u per part (I of the box the upper portions 0 said recesses, represented at d, extend from the ends of the bearing portion to the ends of the box; and in the lower part (1 the lower portions of said recesses, represented at d, extend from the ends of the bearing portion to artition walls d rising from the bottom 0 the box at points sub. stantially midway between the ends of the bearing portion and the ends of the box, and between said partition walls d and the ends of the box shallow recesses d are formed. The recesses d are adapted to contain a supply of oil and are herein termed oil-containing recesses, and the recesses d are ada ted to receive oil which may drip from the s aft or which may be otherwise caused ti) enter them and are herein termed oil-receiving recesses. An oil passage d extends along the under side of the part d of the box, from end to end thereof, which is in open communication with the oil-containing recesses d. This passage cl serves as the settling chamher and is herein so called. It extends through the )artition walls d and beneath the recesses and isprovided at its ends, at the ends of the box, with exits which are closed by screw plugs d The oil fills. the settling chamber (i and rises some little distance in the oil-containing recesses d. Along the middle of the bearing portion at, in the lower part of the box, holes d" are formed which extend downto the settling chamber d", thereby enabling the oil to rise through said holes into contact with the surface of the bearing portion.

The shaft has secilredto it suitable collars (Z having outwardly extended flanges, and these collars are arran ed on the shaft so that the flanges thereo may enter the oilreceiving recesses d. These flanged collars prevent the oil from moving along on the shaft and by turning in the recesses d act to lift the oil and carry it up and throw it in a direction to enable it to pass over the tops of the partition walls d. To facilitate the passage of the oil over the partition walls and into the oil-containing recesses 11, passage ways d" are formed at the ends of said partition walls, extending from the recesses d to the recesses 11" at the top of the partition walls.

At a point substantially midway the length of the bearin portion d an annular recess e is formed, wiiich is in open communication with the settling chamber 11'', by means of a hole e, so that the oil from said chamber rises in said recess. An oil-conveying rim is contained in said recess which is adapte to oil within the box deliver it take the oil and carry it up and This rnig J upon the rollers and other parts.

l 1 i y is con'iposed of a stri of metal c", mass to encircle the rollers and is c rcularly in cross section. circular or other shaped ring and is dis:

said tongue is extended in a radial directiontoward and between the rollers so that the rin' is connected with the set of rollers in. suci manner as to bc revolved by them, being thus positively driven. This manner of forming the oil-conveying ring is simple, yet it is obvious that it may be formed and lso otherwise positively driven and yet come within the scope of this in vcntion.

By means of a )ositively driven oil-conveyin ring the oil is carried upwardfroin .the o1 -c0ntain1ng,recess in such quantities that it will not only lubricate the iarts but will wash away foreign particles an thereby cleanse the parts, a continuous circulation of being established.

By dividing the box in two parts, herein .shown, the joint which extends from end to end thereof is not horizontal and hence the pressure of the rollers on the bearing portion, as they pass from one part to the other is gradual and the action at such point is gradual, and furthermore the two )arts of the box may be easily centered when as senibled,

Having thus described iny invention, what I claim as new and des1re to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In 'a roller bearing, a roller supporting cage consisting of a pairof end plates vided with sockets for receiving the ends set of rollers and having holes through the socketcd portions thereof for the passage of oil, bars rigidly connected at their ends with said end plates at the socketed portions thereof, and a set of tubular rOllershrranged in said sockets through. which said connect ing barsextend, substantially as described.

I 2. -l.n a roller bearing, a roller-supporting cage consisting of a pair of end plates provided with sockets for receiving the ends of a set of rollers, and having holes in the soclgetpd proportions thercof for receiving the ends of the connecting bars and also having holes in the h the exits thereof upon the i otherwise fOlITlQd scnii- It has semii ortions 0 cut from it, but not detached, which are turned up at tor-mediate bearing portion socketcd portions thereof for the passage of oil, connecting bars forincd at their ends pair f purs for cngaging'the sockcted portions of said end plates to thereby connect the two end plates together, and a set of tubular ro'llcrs arranged in said socket through which said connecting portions extend, substantially as described.

3. In a roller bearing, a box having an informed at each ith shuttle" faces and a 1 end with an cngaginggiacc, a roller-supportrcccss e is taken and 1 ing cage having end plates which extend over the ends of said bearing portion and engage said ends, whereby end thrust of the cage is resisted by said bearing portions, said end plates being provided with sockets which receive the ends of a set of rollers, and a set of rollers made longer than the bearing portion of the box, and of the same diameter from end to end, the ends of said rollers which ex tend beyond the ends of the bearing portion of the box entering the sockets in said end plates, substantially as describedl 4. In a roller-bearing, a box having an intermediate bearing portion of the same dianieter from end to end and having an engaging face at each end and having an annular oil-containing recess at each end of said bean ing portion, and a roller supporting cage having end plates which extend over the ends of said bearing portion and engage said ends when the cage is thrust endwise, and which enter said recesses substantially as described.

5. Ina roller bearing, a box having an intermediate bearing portion formed at each end with an engaging-face, a roller-supporting cage having end plates whichcxtend over the ends of said bearing portion and engage .said ends, whereby end thrust of the cage is resisted by said bearing portion, and a set of rollers supported by said cage, the bearing ortions of which are made longer than the caring portion of the box, substantially as described.

6. in a roller bearing, a box having a bearing-portion and oil-containin recesses at the opposite ends thereof, a re ler supporting cage consisting of a pair'oi end plates connectcd together having oil-passages through them, the edges of said plates extending into said recesses and a set of tubular rollers supported by said end plates at points opposite the oil-passages therethrough, substantially as described.

7 In a roller-bearing, a box having a bear ingportion, oil-containing recesses at the opposite ends of said bearing-portion, and oil-receiving recesses beyond said oil containing recesses adapted to receive collars on the shaft, substantially as described.

- 8. In a roller-bearing, a box having a bearing portion, an oil-containing recess an an oil-receiving recess at each end of said bearing portion, a partition wall separating said recesses at each end of but remote from the I bearing portion, over which the oil passes, I l

substantially as described.

9. In a roller bearing, a box having a hcaring portion for a set of rollers, having an annular recess and a ring contained in said 1 recess having external oil-containing reservoirs and exits for said reservoirs, substam 1 tially as described? 10. In a roller bearing, a box havinga bear l ing portion for a set of rollers, and having an annular recess, a ring contained in said recess having oil-containing reservoirs and exits and means for revolving said ring, suhstanj tially as described.

11. In a roller bearing, a set of rollers, a box having a bearin portion for said rollers and having an annu ar recess, an oil-conveying ring encircling said set of rollers hich is contained in said recess consisting of a aircularly formed strip having a tab et one end and a hole at the other end through which said tab is extended, said tab also engaging the rollers to connect the ring therewith, subl stantially as described.

12. In a roller bearing, a set of rollers, a box having a bearing portion for said rollers and having an annular recess, an oil-conveyin ring encircling said set of rollers which is contained in said recess consisting of a transversely bent, circularly formed strip havln means for connecting its ends together am for engagin the rollers to connect it therewith, and laving oil-cmitainin reservoirs and exits, substantially as descr fied.

In testimony hereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEON P. ALFORD Witnesses:

B. J. Novas, H. B. DAVIS. 

